Premini Premarajah, who is studying an MA in Dance Science at the Bedford campus, coordinated the launch of the Global Dance Council (GDC) at the Houses of Parliament in London. The event was attended by the MP for Sutton, Cheam and Worcester Park Paul Scully and the MP for Harrow East Bob Blackman.

The GDC was founded by renowned Indian choreographer Sherif Moideen and Indian dancer Pratheeskumar Sellathurai, who own his own international dance academy, dance competition and TV reality show.

The GDC is a non-profit organisation set up to serve as a governing body for dance in India with global reach.

Premini, who lives in Milton Keynes, said: “The vast majority of youngsters in India are practising dance styles such as hip hop and contemporary without in-depth knowledge and training. GDC’s main purpose is to create a standardised platform for dance training and accreditation.”

Before the GDC there was no specific Board for dance in India, and those who wanted to have a career in dance had no place to get certified. The GDC has linked up with universities around the world to create a syllabus, along with a proper Board and certification process, making dance a subject in the educational curriculum.

Head of the University’s School of Media and Performance Dr Jane Carr said: “We are really proud of Premini for her hard work with the GDC. It is so important to recognise the wealth of dance traditions across the globe, and how sharing dance forms across national boundaries can promote understanding and respect for different cultures.”